Pv panel wire cover assembly

ABSTRACT

A PV panel wire cover assembly includes an elongate wire cover and a plate coupler, the assembly used with a PV panel having perimeter trim with a leg spaced apart from the PV panel to define a gap therebetween. The leg of the perimeter trim has a perimeter trim thickness. The wire cover has first and second opposite sides and a first flange extending from the first side with a slot formed therein. The plate coupler includes a fastener and a plate having proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion sized for receipt within the gap. The fastener passes through the slot and has first and second portions engaging the first flange and the proximal portion of the plate respectively. The wire cover can be fastened to the perimeter trim of the PV panel through the plate coupler without penetrating the PV panel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patentapplication No. 62/351,784, filed 17 Jun. 2016 and entitled Sliding Clipfor Solar Panel Cover, and is a continuation in part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/488,275, filed 14 Apr. 2017 and entitled WireCover and Mounting Bracket, the disclosures of which are incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels are typically provided of rigid planarform with each panel having a similar size, typically rectangular andapproximately two to three feet in a shorter dimension and four to sixfeet in a longer dimension. Solar cells are provided upon a frontsurface of the solar panel. These individual cells are electricallyconnected together. A junction box is provided on a rear surface of eachpanel which gathers up the electric power generated by the cells on thepanel and passes this electric power onto wires. These wires from thejunction box can facilitate wiring together of multiple panels of anarray to produce the overall power generated by the array of panels.

Solar panels are required to be deployed in an outside environmentexposed to solar radiation, where the panels are also exposed toextremes of temperature and moisture. Furthermore, birds and otheranimals typically have access to the panels and the wiring connectingthe panels together. One of the significant benefits of solar powersystems of the PV panel variety is that they have no moving parts whichmust require maintenance or periodic inspection/replacement, as is thecase with other distributed power assets such as wind turbines. However,the outside exposure experienced by the panel and its associated wirescan result in damage occurring to the panels even without the panelsexperiencing any motion. Some solar panel arrays are mounted in amovable fashion to “track” the sun. Such tracking systems can be keptquite simple and easy to maintain, so that the panels do not requiresignificant maintenance or inspection for reliable operation.

Perhaps the greatest source of PV panel array failure is presented inassociation with the wires that connect the individual panels together.The wires have connectors where they are joined to other segments ofwire or to the junction boxes of various panels. If the wires becomedamaged, the system of PV panels can fail. The wires also benefit fromminimizing expense through only providing an amount of exteriorinsulation necessary and to otherwise structure the wire with arelatively light and low cost configuration, including diameter,conductive material, insulating material, insulating material thickness,etc. Furthermore, the wires themselves can be extensive in length andrepresent a significant value for the overall panel system. It is knownin certain instances for thieves to steal wire, such as the wire joiningPV panels together, to recycle the wire for its inherent value in theconductive metals contained therein, or to repurpose the wire in otherways.

SUMMARY

A simplified summary is provided herein to help enable a basic orgeneral understanding of various aspects of exemplary, non-limitingimplementations that follow in the more detailed description and theaccompanying drawings. This summary is not intended, however, as anextensive or exhaustive overview. Instead, the sole purpose of thissummary is to present some concepts related to some exemplarynon-limiting implementations in a simplified form as a prelude to themore detailed description of the various implementations that follow.

A PV panel wire cover assembly includes an elongate wire cover and aplate coupler, the assembly used with a PV panel having perimeter trimwith a leg spaced apart from the PV panel to define a gap therebetween.The leg of the perimeter trim has a perimeter trim thickness. The wirecover has first and second opposite sides and a first flange extendingfrom the first side with a slot formed therein. The plate couplerincludes a fastener and a plate having proximal portion and a distalportion, the distal portion sized for receipt within the gap. Thefastener passes through the slot and has first and second portionsengaging the first flange and the proximal portion of the platerespectively. The wire cover can be fastened to the perimeter trim ofthe PV panel through the plate coupler without penetrating the PV panel.

Other features, aspects and advantages of technology disclosed can beseen on review the drawings, the detailed description, and the claims,which follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The included drawings are for illustrative purposes and serve only toprovide examples of possible structures and process operations for oneor more implementations of this disclosure. These drawings in no waylimit any changes in form and detail that may be made by one skilled inthe art without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.A more complete understanding of the subject matter may be derived byreferring to the detailed description and claims when considered inconjunction with the following figures, wherein like reference numbersrefer to similar elements throughout the figures.

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a conventional array of PV panelsmounted to a common tracking bar.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of an array of PV panel wire coverassembly used with an array of PV panels mount to a common tracking bar.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 during the installation ofwire covers to the array of PV panels, showing wires covered by a wirecover and wires to be covered by a subsequently installed wire cover.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the structure of FIG. 3showing clips engaging trim pieces at opposed edges of adjacent PVpanels.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view a portion of the structure ofFIG. 2 showing an end of one wire cover overlapping the end of anadjacent wire cover.

FIG. 6 shows an end cap covering the outermost end of the wire cover atthe end of the array of photovoltaic panels.

FIG. 7 shows a jumper tube extending between open end caps to protectwires passing between space-apart PV panels.

FIG. 8 is a top, front, right side isometric view of a wire cover.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the wire cover of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an end view of the wire cover of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a left side view of the wire cover of FIG. 8.

FIG. 12 is a top, front, right side view of a clip partially shown inFIG. 4 together with a fastener.

FIG. 13 is a bottom, front, right side view of the clip of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a front, top, right side view of the closed end cap shown inFIG. 6.

FIG. 15 is a top plan view of the end cap of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a rear elevation view of the end cap of FIG. 14.

FIG. 17 is a front, top, right side view of the open end cap shown inFIG. 7.

FIG. 18 is a top plan view of the end cap of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a rear elevation view of the end cap of FIG. 17.

FIG. 20 is a simplified edge view showing a clip mounted to a trim pieceof the solar panel with a flange of the wire cover about to be securedto the clip by a fastener.

FIG. 21 is a simplified illustration of a series of PV panels directedto an alternative embodiment in which the wire cover is mounted to thepanels using a plate coupling instead of a clip.

FIG. 22 is a simplified end view of several panels illustrating how thetrim extends below the rear surface of the panels.

FIG. 23 is a simplified view illustrating securing a panel to a wirecover using the plate coupling.

FIG. 24 is a simplified, somewhat exploded view illustrating a platecoupling, including a plate and a fastener, shown in solid lines withthe trim of a PV panel and a flange of a wire cover shown in brokenlines.

FIG. 25 shows an alternative embodiment of the plate of FIG. 24.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

To protect the wires and to hide them from view, it is desirable toprovide a cover for the runs of wire which join PV panels together. Suchcovers would both protect the wires and make the wires less enticing tothieves, and present some degree of impediment to thieves interested instealing the wires. While a basic cover could be provided over runs ofwire joining panels together including a cover element and with a flangehaving a hole therein which can receive a fastener, a significantproblem is encountered in that the flange of such a basic cover requiresa hole in the panel through which a fastener can pass for connecting thecover to a panel. PV panels are typically substantially free of fastenerholes thereon, other than fastener holes which are already dedicated toother purposes, including panel mounting purposes. Without a holeavailable for securing such a cover to the panel, one is left with theundesirable prospect of perhaps drilling an additional hole in the panel(which may void its warranty), which not only has significant propensityto damage the panel, it involves significant additional work.Accordingly, a need exists for a system for a wire-covering system foran array of photovoltaic panel which does not require drilling of holesinto the panels, but can still allow for a wire cover to be mounted tothe panels in a simple manner.

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a conventional array 22 of PVpanels 14 mounted to a common tracking bar 24. A junction box 26 is seenmounted along an edge of each PV panel 14 with exposed wires 12extending from the junction boxes.

With this technology, a PV panel wire cover assembly 8, see FIG. 2,includes a wire cover 10, also referred to as cover 10, for coveringwires 12 which join photovoltaic (PV) panels 14 together so that theycannot be seen and to help protect the wires from the weather,vandalism, theft and animals. PV panels 14 are also referred to aspanels 14 or solar panels 14. Assembly 8 also includes a clip 16 whichcan be easily attached to a panel 14 without requiring drilling of holesthereinto, and which clip 16 presents a hole 18 to which a fastener 20,such as a screw or bolt, can join after having interfaced with a wirecover 10, so that between the wire cover 10 and a series of such clips16, the wire cover 10 can be coupled to the panels in a manner overlyingthe wires thereof.

FIG. 3 shows a wire cover 10 during installation with wires 12 extendingfrom the open end of a wire cover 10 prior to installation of the nextwire cover 10. FIGS. 8-11 illustrate how the wire cover 10 has a pair offlanges 28, 30 and a wire-covering housing 32 defining a housinginterior 34 between the flanges. Wire-covering housing 32 is sized, inparticular to have sufficient depth 36, to accommodate the wires 12bundled therein. The flanges 28, 30 include slots. These slots arepreferably of a variety which is elongate in form with rounded ends andwith a length thereof parallel with a length of the wire-coveringhousing 32 of the wire cover 10. Such slots are provided on each flange28, 30 directly adjacent to this wire-covering housing 32. Because thepanel-to-panel spacing 46 between solar panels 14 in array 22 can varyslightly, slots 38, 40 are provided rather than a single hole, toaccommodate some variation in panel-to-panel spacing. Longer flange 28includes a notch 42 at each end. Notch 42 is useful in placing cover 10under the edge of the PV panel frame thus reducing the need for clipsand speeding up installation. However, for some types of equipment notch42 can be omitted to create a notch less wire cover 10 indicated by thedashed lines 44 in FIG. 8.

Details of the clips 16 are shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, as well as FIG. 4Each clip 16 can be a bent piece of spring steel (or optionally othermaterial) which fits over a piece of trim 48 along the lateral sides 50of the PV panels 14; see FIGS. 2-5. Trim 48 extends generallyperpendicular to the side-to-side orientation of wires 12 and wirecovers 10. Trim 48 is offset a distance slightly from a rear surface 54of the panel with a width a distance sufficient to allow a short leg 58of the clip 16 to reside therein. The clip 16 has a long leg 60 oppositethe short leg 58 with the two legs substantially parallel to each otherand joined together at a proximal end 62 of the clip. The long leg 60ends at a trim engagement element 64, also called a tooth 64, at adistal end 66 thereof which can wrap around and grip somewhat an outeredge 68 of the trim 48. The proximal ends of each leg of the clip 16 arejoined together so that the clip 16 is, in this example, a continuouspiece of metal. A spacing or gap 69 between the legs 58, 60 of the clip16 is preferably similar to a thickness of the trim 48 on the panel 14,so that somewhat of a friction fit is provided when the clip 16 is slidover the trim 48 with the trim 48 between the legs 58, 60.

FIG. 20 is a simplified edge view showing a clip 16 mounted to a trimpiece 48 of the solar panel 14 with a flange 28, 30 of the wire cover 10about to be secured to the clip by a fastener 20. An overall width ofthe clip 16 between the distal tooth 64 at the tip of the long leg 60and a curve at the proximal end 62 where the long leg 60 and short leg58 are joined together, see dimension 70 in FIG. 13, is greater than thewidth 56 of the trim 48 by an amount sufficient so that hole 18, whichin this example includes a top through-hole 72 and a bottom threadedhole 74, passing through the clip 16 can be positioned off of the trim48. See FIGS. 13 and 20. These holes 72, 74 pass through both the longleg 60 and the short leg 58 of the clip 16 with the holes adjacent tothe curving proximal end 62 of the clip 16 which joins the long leg 60and the short leg 58 together. The holes preferably are similar in sizeand aligned together, but, in this example, with the hole 74 in theshort leg 58 being threaded and the hole 72 in the long leg 60 being athrough hole and not threaded. It is also conceivable that both of theholes could be threaded or neither of the holes could be threaded andstill function according to this technology if, for example, usingnon-threaded fasteners or if a threaded fastener pair such as a bolt andnut are used together. Most preferably, however, the short leg 58 hasits hole 74 threaded and the long leg 60 does not have its hole 72threaded.

In one embodiment, if the trim 48 has a one inch width 56, the long leg60 could have a two inch length and the short leg 58 could have a oneand a half inch length. In such a configuration a quarter inch holecould be provided which is spaced approximately a quarter inch to a halfinch away from the curving proximal end 62 of the clip 16 where the longleg 60 and short leg 58 come together. The clip 16 could have variousdifferent widths 76; clip 16 is shown with approximately a three-quarterinch width in the embodiment depicted.

If the clip 16 is formed of materials other than spring steel (e.g.,aluminum or plastic) it still preferably functions to clamp and hold tothe trim 48. The clip 16 will then have a tendency to stay whereinitially placed. Furthermore, once a fastener 20 passes through thenon-threaded hole 72 in the long leg 60 and then threads into thethreads in the threaded hole 74 in the short leg 58, the long leg 60 andshort leg 58 are drawn together and further pinch the clip 16 tightlyagainst the trim 48. The clip 16 thus conveniently tends to stay wherepositioned before use, but can be repositioned fairly easily before ithas been used, such as by sliding along the trim 48 with the tooth 64 atthe distal end 66 of the long leg 60 keeping the clip 16 aligned whereit is desired to be.

Once the clips 16 are positioned where desired, a wire cover 10 would beplaced over wires 12 joining panels 14 together and with the elongatehole or slots 38, 40 in one of the flanges 28, 30 overlying the clip 16and aligned with the holes in the clip 16. A fastener 20, such as abolt, would then be passed through the elongate hole 38, 40 in theflange 28, 30 and then passed through the non-threaded hole 72 in theouter, long leg 60 of the clip 16, and then threaded into the threadedhole 74 in the short leg 58 of the clip 16. See FIG. 20. Once thefastener 20 has been tightened, not only has the clip 16 been secured inposition against the trim 48 of the panel, but also the wire cover 10has been secured to the panel as well. This process is repeated withadditional clips 16 at corresponding locations on other portions of thewire covers 10 to securely cause the wire covers 10 to be mounted tooverlie wires 12 joining the panels 14 together.

FIG. 6 shows a closed end cap 82 covering the outermost end of the wirecover 10 at the end of the array 22 of photovoltaic panels 14. Detailsof end cap 82 are shown in FIGS. 14-16. FIGS. 7 and 17-19 illustrate anopen end cap 84 secured to the outermost end of a wire cover 10. Openend caps 84 are used when there is a gap between PV panels 14, such aswhen there is a motor or other obstruction in the way on tracked arraysof PV panels. Open end cap 84 defines a wire passage opening 90 and hasa curved extension 86 over which a jumper tube 88, see FIG. 7, ismounted. Wires 12 pass between the spaced-apart PV panels 14 along awire passageway through wire passage opening 90, through curvedextension 86 and through jumper tube 88. Use of closed end caps 82 andopen end caps 84, together with jumper tube 88, helped to protect wires12 from the elements, degradation or destruction by animals, and alsohelps to keep animals from entering housing interior 34. Jumper tube 88can be made with somewhat flexible material, such as PVC or ABS, with aslit along its length to permit it to be placed over curved extensions86 and the wires 12 extending between space-apart open end caps 84 asshown in FIG. 7. The length of jumper tube 88 is made to be slightlyshorter than the distance between open end caps 84 so that it maintainscontact with the curved extensions 86 of the open end caps.

If desired for further theft prevention, fasteners 20 having uniquetorque receiving surfaces can be used so that it is less likely that athief has access to a proper tool for removal of such fasteners. Thefasteners could be provided of a type which can allow for readyinstallation but does not allow for ready disassembly. For instance,rivets could be used instead of threaded fasteners or threaded fastenerswith heads which allow for torque to be applied for fastening but not tobe applied for removal. As a still further option, the fasteners couldhave heads which snap off after the fastener has been used, so that thetorque applying head is removed and unavailable for theft access afterinstallation.

Typically, wire covers 10 are provided which are of standard lengthswhich allow for convenient handling thereof, such as six foot lengths orten foot lengths. The wire covers 10 can overlap each other somewhat atends thereof to allow for continuous covering of the wires 12. Each wirecover 10 would typically have a length which spans two or more panels14. The positions of the slotted holes 38, 40 are preferably selected togenerally match widths 78 of the panels 14 but with the slotted holessufficiently long to accommodate variations in panel size as well asspacing 46 between adjacent panels 14.

Covers 10 can be made of bent metal, such as galvanized sheet steel orof sheet aluminum. Covers 10 can also be made of polymer materials, suchas PVC, typically through extrusion or molding techniques. While clips16 are preferably made of materials such as spring steel to aid properpositioning; in some examples clips 16 may be made materials, such aslayered materials, which may or may not exhibit the degree of resilienceprovided by spring steel. The covers 10 and clips 16 could alternativelybe made of non-metal materials or metals of other varieties to optimizedesired performance characteristics or to minimize expense or otherwiseprovide for benefits associated with particular materials selected.

In an alternative embodiment, see FIGS. 21-25, clip 16 is replaced witha plate coupling 94. Plate coupling 94 includes a plate 96 and afastener 20. In a first embodiment the plate 96 is somewhat elongatewith a distal portion 98, also referred to as distal plate 98, and aproximal portion 100, also referred to as proximal plate 100. The distalportion 98 and proximal portion 100 are, in this example, each planarand oriented parallel to each other. A bend portion 101 between thedistal and proximal portions 98 and 100 offsets the distal plate 98 fromthe proximal plate 100. The proximal plate 100 includes a threaded hole102 therein, preferably near a center of the proximal plate 100.

Trim 48 includes a first leg 104 extending away from rear surface 54 ofPV panel 14 and a second leg 106 extending generally parallel to rearsurface 54. The distal plate 98 and proximal plate 100 are parallel butoffset by an offset distance 108 which is similar to of the thickness107 of the second leg 106 of trim 48; in some examples offset distance108 is about equal to or up to 10% less than thickness 107. In someexamples plate 96 could engage the solar panel 14 itself or otherstructure associated with PV panel 14 to permit cover 10 to be securedto the PV panel. Also, in some examples the thickness 110 of the plate96 is similar to the width 112 of the gap 114 between the second leg 106of trim 48 and the rear surf ace 54 of the solar panel 14; in someexamples thickness 110 is equal to 105% to 125% of width 112.

As shown in FIGS. 21 and 23, flange 28 has slots 38 extending generallyperpendicular to the side edges 115 of PV panels 14. The slot 38 inflange 28 is aligned with the threaded hole 102 in the plate 96.Fastener 20 can be used by first passing through the slot 38 in theflange 28 of the cover 10 and then into the threaded hole 102 of theplate 96. Fastener 20 includes a bolt head 103 and a washer 105 actingas a first portion of the fastener and engaging flange 28. Fastener 20has a threaded end 105 acting as a second portion engaging proximalportion 100 of plate 96. Tightening of the fastener 20 causes the plate96 to be drawn toward the flange 28 of the cover 10. The cover 10 ispositioned where desired spanning multiple panels 14 (or at least onepanel 14) and with slots 38 in the flanges 28 adjacent to trim 48 atedges of the panels. In the example of FIGS. 21-23, slots are only shownin flange 28; slots could be formed in flange 30 and used with plates 96and fasteners 20. The plate 96 is positioned so that the distal portion98 is in the gap 114 and on a side of the second leg 106 of trim 48opposite the flange 28 of the cover 10, so that the second leg 106 ofthe trim is positioned between the distal portion 98 of the plate 96 andthe flange 28 of the cover 10. Then, when the fastener 20 is tightened,the second leg 106 of the trim 48 is captured between the distal portion98 of the plate 96 and the flange 28 of the cover 10. The fastener 20 istightened sufficiently so that the entire cover 10 is held to the panel14 by the plate 96 and flange 28 sandwiching the second leg 106 of trim48 therebetween. The provision of slots 38 through which fasteners 20pass allows plate 96 to act as a sliding plate to accommodate a range ofcomponent sizes and locations and still provide for the secure mountingof cover 10 to a panel 14.

If desired, an undersurface 116 of distal portion 98, or of both distalportion 98 and proximal portion 100 of the plate 96, can be providedwith a roughened or other high friction surface to further enhance theability to engage with the trim 48 to hold the cover 10 tightly in placewhen the fastener 20 is tightened. The fastener is shown as a basic boltwhich passes through the slot 38 in the flange 28 and then threads intothe threads of the threaded hole 102. Other fastener arrangements,threaded or not threaded, could alternatively be provided. In oneembodiment rather than having the threaded hole 102 on the proximalportion 100 of the plate 96, a threaded stud can extend downwardly (inFIGS. 23 and 24) and through the slot 38. A nut can then thread ontothis threaded stud and as the nut is tightened, the plate is drawntightly against the flange of the cover with the trim capturedtherebetween. This threaded stud could be integrally formed with theproximal portion of the plate, or a bolt could be provided passingthrough a hole (typically non-threaded) located where the threaded holeis shown. Alternatively, the bolt could pass through the threaded holeextending in a downward direction (with the orientation of FIGS. 23 and24) and still have a nut fasten onto the bolt so that a bolt and nutpair are used along with a threaded hole or non-threaded hole to providethe compression force required to tighten the plate 96 toward the flange28 of the cover 10 with the second leg 106 of the trim 48 capturedtherebetween.

As an alternative to the plate 96 shown with the bend therein, the platecould be flat. Such a flat plate 118, see FIG. 25, would still have adistal portion 98 and a proximal portion 100 and with the proximalportion typically including a hole (such as threaded hole 102) and/or athreaded stud associated therewith for fastening to the cover throughthe slots in the flange. The distal portion of such a flat plate wouldbe in a common plane with the proximal portion and could have a plainstructure. When the fastener is tightened, the flat plate is drawntoward the flange of the cover until the trim is tightly capturedtherebetween.

Typically, multiple such plates of either the bent or flat variety wouldbe used at slots in a common flange (or opposite side flanges) of acover and with the individual plates located behind different portionsof trim of either the same or different panels. When these plates aretightened by the fasteners, different portions of trim are capturedadjacent to the flange of the cover so that the cover is securely heldin position relative to the panels.

The plates 96, 118 would typically be carried along with the cover 10,such as by being mounted to the cover, before installation to avoidhaving multiple separate parts. Such holding of the plates together withthe slots in the flange of the cover could occur through having thefastener be a type of fastener which can be loosened or tightened butcannot be entirely separated away from the slots in the flange orentirely separated away from the plates. Rather, the fastener in theform of a bolt would have a capture structure on a tip thereof whichwould keep the fastener from being threaded entirely out of the threadedhole. Thus, the fastener can only go from loose to tight as it isrotated in different directions, but cannot be entirely removed in suchan embodiment. One way of creating capture structure would be to deformthe threads at the tip of the threaded end 109 of fastener 20 after thetip has passed completely through the threaded hole. The use of capturestructure prevents the fastener from being inadvertently disconnectedfrom the flange.

This disclosure is provided to reveal embodiments of the technology andbest modes for practicing the technology. Having thus described thetechnology in this way, it should be apparent that various differentmodifications can be made to the preferred embodiment without departingfrom the scope and spirit of this disclosure. When structures areidentified as a means to perform a function, the identification isintended to include all structures which can perform the functionspecified. One or more elements of one or more claims can be combinedwith elements of other claims. Any and all patents, patent applicationsand printed publications referred to above are incorporated byreference.

What is claimed is:
 1. A PV panel wire cover assembly, for use with a PVpanel having perimeter trim, the perimeter trim having a leg spacedapart from the PV panel to define a gap therebetween, the leg of theperimeter trim having a perimeter trim thickness, the PV panel wirecover assembly comprising: an elongate wire cover comprising first andsecond opposite sides and a first flange extending away from the firstopposite side; the first flange having a slot formed therein; a platecoupler comprising a plate and a fastener; the plate comprising aproximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion sized forreceipt within the gap; and the fastener passing through the slot in thefirst flange and having a first portion engaging the first flange and asecond portion engaging the proximal portion of the plate; whereby saidwire cover can be fastened to the perimeter trim of the PV panel throughsaid plate coupler without penetrating the PV panel.
 2. The assemblyaccording to claim 1, wherein the slot extends in a direction generallyperpendicular to the first opposite side.
 3. The assembly according toclaim 1, wherein: the gap has a width; and the distal portion of theplate has a thickness equal to about 105%-125% of the width of the gap.4. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the plate has a bendportion joining the distal portion and the proximal portion, the distalportion of the plate being generally parallel to but offset from theproximal portion of the plate by an offset distance.
 5. The assemblyaccording to claim 4, wherein the offset distance is equal to or up to10% less than the perimeter trim thickness
 6. The assembly according toclaim 1, wherein the fastener is a threaded fastener.
 7. The assemblyaccording to claim 1, wherein the fastener comprises capture structureto prevent the fastener from being inadvertently disconnected from thefirst flange.